An Allergist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases such as hay fever, asthma, hives, eczema, sinusitis, poison ivy, and reactions to bees, drugs, foods and pets.
To become an Allergist, a physician must first complete four years of medical school, one year of internship, two years of residency training and then two to three more years of specialized training in an Allergy fellowship program. This adds up to nine or ten years of advanced education in addition to college.
To become a Board Certified Allergist, a physician must complete all the requirements listed above and also pass rigorous oral and written examinations in either Pediatrics or Internal Medicine in addition to passing a comprehensive examination in the specialty of Allergy and Immunology.